Suspicious powder at Long Island IRS office is baking soda

HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Nearly 60 workers at an Internal Revenue Service office on eastern Long Island were briefly evacuated after an employee opened an envelope containing a suspicious powder. An IRS spokeswoman says the substance was later determined to be baking soda.

There were no injuries.

Suffolk County police did not immediately comment.

IRS spokeswoman Dianne Besunder (BEHS'-unhn-dur) says the evacuation happened around 10 a.m. at the IRS office in Holtsville. About 55 workers and three managers were evacuated from the building and hazardous materials rescue teams examined the substance.

She said by 11 a.m. the evacuation was over and all employees were back at work.

The spokeswoman said she could not recall any similar incidents at the Long Island office.